I’m writing to you today about something that keeps me up at night: ICE’s reign of terror across our country. For months, ICE agents have been wreaking havoc in our communities, operating without ANY accountability. And we’ve seen in recent days how that lawlessness has turned deadly. It’s horrific. It’s unacceptable. And it must be stopped. I’ve Been Sounding the Alarm Since Day OneFrom the moment this administration unleashed ICE without restraint, I knew we were headed toward tragedy. That’s why I’ve been taking action – not just talking about it, but actually fighting back. I put it all on the line to demand access to ICE facilities here in Illinois. When I showed up at the Broadview facility to exercise my constitutional authority as a member of Congress to conduct oversight, ICE agents evicted me. They called the police and accused me of “trespassing” at a federal facility that I have every legal right to inspect.
But I stood my ground. Because when federal agents are operating in the shadows, refusing oversight, and treating our communities like war zones — someone has to hold them accountable. I introduced legislation to restrict the use of force by ICE agents and to literally unmask them – because when agents operate with their identities hidden, accountability becomes impossible, and abuse becomes inevitable. I introduced legislation to prevent ICE from partnering with bounty hunters and creating a for-profit tracking program. And I called on Kristi Noem to testify before Congress and answer for ICE’s lawlessness once and for all. This Is Personal to MeLook, I need to be honest with you about why I’m so passionate about this issue. My parents immigrated to this country when I was a baby. They came with almost nothing – just hope, determination, and an unshakeable belief in the promise of America. Things weren’t always easy. My father worked multiple jobs. My mother sacrificed everything to give us opportunities she never had.
But they believed more than anyone in what this country could be. They believed that if you worked hard, played by the rules, and contributed to your community, you could build a better life for your family. That’s what the American story is all about. I grew up in that immigrant household, watching my parents navigate a new country, a new language, a new culture – always with dignity, always with hope. I saw firsthand what it means to be treated as “other,” to have your belonging questioned, to fight for acceptance in the only country you really know. That’s why watching ICE terrorize immigrant communities feels like an assault on everything that made my story possible. When I see federal agents conducting raids in neighborhoods that look like the ones I grew up in, when I see families torn apart for no reason other than where they were born, when I see people shot and killed during an immigration enforcement action – I see an attack on the America my parents believed in. This isn’t the country they sacrificed everything for. This isn’t the American Dream they were promised. And I can’t stand by while Donald Trump and his enablers destroy everything that makes America actually great – not the hollow slogan version, but the real version that welcomed my family and millions of others. We Need Leaders With a BackboneI’m running for Senate because we need leaders who will actually fight back against these attacks – not just issue statements, not just express concern, but take real action even when it’s uncomfortable or politically risky. That means showing up at ICE facilities and demanding access even when agents threaten to arrest you. That means introducing legislation that will face fierce opposition. That means calling for testimony when officials preside over lawlessness. That means being willing to use the power of the purse to force accountability. The MAGA-controlled Congress has completely abdicated its oversight responsibility. They’re rubber-stamping every abuse, cheering on every raid, and ignoring utter tragedy in Minneapolis because holding ICE accountable might anger their base. We need to flip the Senate and elect people with the backbone to stand up to this administration’s cruelty – people who understand that immigration enforcement doesn’t have to mean terror, that border security doesn’t require abandoning human rights, and that the promise of America is big enough to include everyone willing to contribute to our shared future. That’s the kind of leader I’ve been in the House, and it’s the kind of Senator I’ll be if you help me win this race. Thank you for standing with me. Raja Krishnamoorthi
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Monday, January 26, 2026
Why I’m Fighting ICE’s Reign of Terror
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